Pregnancy 199 



womb) become apparent, especially after the animal 

 has taken a drink of cold water. These are peculiar 

 jerking or kicking movements, and are observed in 

 the region of the dam's flank, particularly on the right 

 side. They can often be felt by placing the hand firmly 

 against the flank. In cows, as pregnancy advances, 

 there is often a small rope of mucus, called by cattle- 

 men a "tag," hanging from the vulva. In large ani- 

 mals, as cows and mares, pregnancy can sometimes be 

 detected by a physical examination. The rectum is 

 emptied, two assistants pass a folded blanket under 

 the animal's belly and lift up, while the operator, 

 his hand and arm oiled and inserted into the rectum, 

 feels for the uterus, which lies just beneath the 

 rectum. When the uterus is found, a quick push 

 downward is given with the flat hand, and the hand 

 held quietly in position. If the animal is pregnant, 

 the small fetus will be felt as it bobs back against 

 the hand, like a cork floating in water. The preg- 

 nant uterus felt in this manner is much larger than 

 the normal uterus, and it lies about half an arm's 

 length from the vulva. Sometimes animals, par- 

 ticularly mares, show few if any signs of pregnancy 

 until they surprise their owners with their living 

 young. 



Pregnant animals should be kept in fair flesh, not 

 very fat nor very thin. They should have plenty of 

 exercise, and laxative, but not too bulky food. Harsh 

 treatment, excitement and violent exercise should be 

 avoided, such as fast driving, heavy pulling, wallow- 

 ing in snow-drifts or mire, slipping on ice, crowding 



